Folding ladder



(No Model.)

' W. S. ETHRIDGE.

FOLDING LADDER.

No. 375,482. Patented Dec. 27, 1887.

- INVBNTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

N. PEIERS. mwmm n ner. Washinglnn. n. c.

UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. ETHRIDGE, OF PALUXY, TEXAS.

FOLDING LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375.482. dated December 27, 1887.

Application filed August 3, 1887. Serial No. 246,041. (No model.) 7

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SPENCER Ern- RIDGE, of Paluxy, in the county of Hood and State of Texas, have invented a new and Improved Folding Ladder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a novel form of folding ladder, the object of the invention being to provide a ladder which may be moved so as to occupy avery small space, but one which may be folded down for use so-as to form a protected way through which parties having I occasion to use the ladder may pass, the invention being especially applicable for use in mines, and for use as a fire-escape in connection with tall buildings.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,-

in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved form of ladder, the parts being represented as they appear when extended for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the parts, however, being shown as they appear when theladder is folded. Fig. 3 is a view taken from the point A in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on linear 0c of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is adetailed perspective view.

In constructing such aladder as the one illustrated in the drawings above referred to I provide two main side pieces, 10, to which there are bolted or otherwise secured auxiliary strips 11, that are formed with recesses adapted to receive the ends of the rounds 12. These rounds 12 are of peculiar shape, being formed with outwardly-bowed portions a, straight sections b, which pass through the recesses or apertures formed in the auxiliary strips 11, and with outturned arms or stops 0. The bows a pass through strengthening-strips 14,as clearly shown in the drawings.

With such a ladder as the one above described the bows may be folded down to the position illustrated in Fig. 1, at which time the stops 0 of the rounds 12 will abut against the main strips 10, thus holding the rounds in may be folded, as represented in Fig. 2, thus leaving plenty of space available for the operation of the buckets. The ladder will also be found to be exceedingly useful as a fire-escape, in which case but one set of rounds would be employed and the strips 10 would be secured to the face of the building at either side of the windows, the rounds in this case being placed close enough together to prevent burglars from entering; and in order that burglars may be kept from entering at the top or bottom of the ladder I provide flaps or doors 16, which may be folded down,asisillustrated in Figs. 3 and 5.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A folding ladder consisting ofside pieces, boweda'ounds pivoted to the side pieces and provided with stops at their ends,and strengtheningstrips carried by said bows, substantially as described.

2. In a folding ladder, the combinatiomwith main supporting-strips, of recessed auxiliary strips connected thereto, rounds formed with bows a, sections 1), which pass through the recesses of the auxiliary strips,and stops c,which bear against the main supporting-strips, and strengthening -strips 14, through which the bows a of the rounds pass, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a folding ladder, of flaps 16, substantially as described.

WILLIAM S. ETHRIDGE.

"Witnesses:

J. T. PARKER, D. M. TIDWELL. 

